Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-16

TIE FIRST CENTURY OF THE CONSTITUTE

Prom the Century.
1t may be well for ia, with the light OF a GEN.
furys practical experience of the Constitution at
the end OF which that instrument fits the new ma
ton as comfortably as in 1885, to consider what
the difficulties OF the convention would hare been
II 1t had been called upon 70 frame with prophetic
vision, q constitution for the United states OF
1887. The strongest argument which the Federal
fa and the defenders OF the new constitution In
the state conventions could advance In favor OF
ratification and in Justification OF the ex-
pectation OF the practical success OF the Consti-
tuition was the c0mnaratiyeIy small SI1a ~
the country. Hamilton, In the Federolist lays
down this rule: tine natural limit OF a
republic Is that distance from the center which
viii barely allow the representatives OF the people
10 meet as often as may be necessary for the adj
miniStratiOn or public affairs" He estimates the
length OF the country, rom north 10 south, at
ses x miles and is breadth at $50 adding this
eomIortatle comparison: at is not a great deal
fore the late di>memberment." In another place
he says: III there b. but one government pervad-
ing all The states, there Will BE-, TO the princi-
pal part Of our commerce. but one side TO guard
TIE Atlantic coast" With what feelings would
he and the convention have set about their work
they could have realized that they were In real
ry framing scheme Of government for q country
which was 10 stretch from north latitude 25 de-
grees 10 40 degrees and from the G7th 10 the I25th
degree or west longitude, :2,00O miles by l,6O0
through the center, 10 say nothing OF Alaska IT.
self two-thirds the size OF the country OF which
Hamilton was speaking? That the commerce for
which they were caring was TO whiten the waters
OF DOth the Paclnc and the Atlantic, OF the Gulf
Of Mexico. as wen a. OF the great lakes: That the
Congress which they were providing was to deal
with an internal commerce greater than all the
foreign commerce that the country has ever
known, with a manufacturing capital OF
81. s0o, 600. 900, and annual product of
80 400, COO OOO with q population Of 80 600 OOO
instead OF 4,0Oo,0O0? That the tine would come
when a member OF Congress would be compelled
10 travel $500 miles in going TO the Federal capi
tai and returning 10 his state? 1t Is fortunate
thing for the United states that the CONT eution
which framed the Constitution knew nothing OF
The future, and devoted its care and energies TO
the establishment or government for the cOun-
try which II knew.
which 10 had framed 20 meet the future and the
most marvellous feature OF It's first century OF trial
has been Its apparently iDexnaustible power OF
coulinodatiDg Itself 10 the grow TN and changing
has expanded IN us territorial jurisdiction from
thirteen districts 10 sixty; Its Presidential Office
has bad control OF million or armed men: It's i'm
ports have risen from x,2 600 600 70 500 COO COO
and It's exports from 10000, 600 TO $40 600 600:
steau electricity and all the other forces wAich
modern civilization has harnessed Tor the service
Of man, have altered the life and needs OF the
people; and still, the National Government estaD-
usheQ Oy the constitution, remains unchanged In
substance. The natural divergence OF its lines
has brought Larger anu still larger fields within
their scope; the Few employees OF 1889 have fn-
creased in number until they an army but the
Treasury officer OF l1Sg, f1 ne could examine the
equalization to-day. would still be able 10 trace
clearly the lines OF the original formation though
he might DC bewtdered Ia the effort 10 roIlo,y oar
all the ramtncatiOns by which the system has mel
the requirements OF later developments. The case
Is the same In every department Of the national
system; IL has developed, but IL has not changed
This convention OF 17S7 could hardly have pro-
ytded q more satisfactory system for 1887 If with
prophetic vision, it had been able TO forecast the
needs OF 1887 and adapt It's work TO those needs.